WRMD Conducts 2KR Mid-year Review and Planning Workshop

In its intention to efficiently implement the NAFC- funded project entitled “Rehabilitation of Small-Scale Irrigation Project (SSIP) for Upland Productivity and Resources Sustainability,” the Water Resources Management Division conducted 2KR Mid-Year Review and Planning Workshop in Oasis Hotel, Clarkville Pampanga last May 23-25, 2012. It was participated in by DA-RFUs and BSWM Regional Focal Engineers for SSIP, BSWM Planning Officer and NAFC representatives.

Assistant Director Wilfredo E. Cabezon welcomed the participants. In his speech he shared the agreements made during the budget hearing with DBM. He also emphasized that slippage on the project implementation should be scrutinized and resolved especially now that the project is on its last year. Ms. Sharon De Vera of BSWM Planning Division also discussed the Updates on Agri-Fisheries Modernization Plan.

In the workshop, updates on the accomplished and on-going projects were presented. There are a total of 124 projects under this three-year project which started on 2010. From these, 38 projects are already completed, 21 on-going projects and 12 projects for implementation. The rest of the projects, mostly funded under CY 2012, are still on the process of submission of required documents. The status of training was also presented. 18 trainings were already conducted, 70 % of the target trainings to be conducted by June 2012.

After the presentation, an open forum among the DA-RFUs, BSWM Engineers, NAFC representatives was done. Issues and concerns in the project implementation were also discussed. The reasons on delayed implementation were raised and discussed among the participants. BSWM and DA RFUs Focal Engineers for SSIP, guided with the advice from NAFC representatives and BSWM Planning Officer, came up with Catch up Plans to take action on the backlogs in the project implementation.

The workshop ended with a site visitation to one of the completed projects under Year 2. Participants went to San Jose Diversion Dam located at Brgy. San Jose, Mayantoc, Tarlac. Reg. 3 focal person for SSIP, Engr. Elmer Tubig accompanied the participants to the site. A short interview with the Mayantoc Farmers Association regarding the impact of the project was done in the site.